Obama, Holder to speak at ceremony in Lisner Friday

President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder will speak Friday at Lisner Auditorium, representatives from the University and Department of Justice said Wednesday afternoon.

The two will deliver remarks at Holder’s Installation Ceremony, which is a ceremonial swearing-in that all attorney generals have, said Hannah August, a Justice spokeswoman.

Officials chose Lisner because of its ability to hold a large number of Justice officials, University spokeswoman Tracy Schario said. Because Obama had visited Lisner as a presidential candidate in 2007, the venue “immediately made the short list,” she added.

“We’re very pleased to be hosting them both,” Schario said.

Organizers secured the location last week, Schario said.

Holder was a member of the GW Board of Trustees from 1996 to 1997 and also served as a part of the steering committee for GW’s Homeland Security Policy Institute, but Schario said she didn’t know if his ties to GW were factors in the decision to choose Lisner.

“He definitely has ties to the University and we’re glad the Department of Justice considered us as a venue and selected us as a venue,” she said.

Justice employees and invited guests of Holder will be attending the event, which will begin at 10 a.m., as will University President Steven Knapp and members of the GW Board of Trustees. Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden will also be in attendance.

A small number of tickets were secured for GW students and will be distributed on an invitation-only basis, Schario said. The University hopes to broadcast the event on GWTV, however, Schario said.